Choosing the Right Company For Hunterdon County Replacement Windows

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Finding the perfect home renovation company to handle your Hunterdon County replacement windows isn’t always as simple as it sounds. It often involves contacting several different window contractors and asking important questions to understand what options are available to you. All homeowners want to get the best value for their hard earned money. That is why it’s so important not to settle on the first contractor that you come across without exploring how many possibilities are out there! As you shop around for the perfect company for your Hunterdon County replacement windows contractor, there are a couple of things that you should look for. Today, we will be looking at some questions that should help you determine which Hunterdon County Window Replacement company is the best option for you:

Questions to Ask

What Is Your Address?

Although this may seem like a strange question to ask, getting the complete address of the company can be an important factor in determining a company’s time in business. If a post office box is given, ask for a full street address as well. Try to hire a contractor that has an office nearby. The likelihood of better service and quicker response time is greater if the company is based near your home.

Do You Have All The Necessary Documentation?

A great window contractor should carry comprehensive liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance* to protect you in the event of an accident. This can be verified by asking to see the contractor’s certificates of insurance (workers’ compensation and general liability). Let the contractor know you want current certificates sent to you by the insurer before the job is started.
Contractors may also carry other kinds of insurance including health, life and auto insurance. Bland assurances of insurance coverage may refer to these. Don’t be confused. Ask for proof of general liability and workers’ compensation* coverage for window projects.

Contractors who carry insurance and follow safety guidelines on fall prevention endure higher job overhead costs. These expenses could be the cause of price variations between contractors who follow the standards versus those who ignore them. Beware of uninsured contractors. Contractors who do not carry insurance will most likely be cheaper to hire as they do not have the large insurance premiums to pay. Workers’ compensation premiums can increase wage costs from about 20% to as much as 100%, depending on the state.

There are a variety of reasons why full insurance may not be carried by a contractor, such as:

Not a full-time contractor
Operates as a partnership or self-employed without employees
New in the business
Can’t afford insurance premiums
Doesn’t stand behind work
It is up to you to determine if it is worth the risk to hire a contractor who does not carry insurance.

Are You Licensed or Credentialed?

When you pose this question, you are, in effect, asking if the contractor is licensed by your state and/or city. Not all states require contractors to be licensed. If your state does license contractors, then he might have had to pass a written examination in his specialty, although few licenses make this a requirement. A number of cities also require professional licensing. Check with your local licensing authority for details.

A contractor may also answer this question by telling you he has a business license. However, a business license is a tax requirement only and is not directly relevant to the contractor’s competence. Several window manufacturers offer a variety of programs to professional contractors that establish their credentials as a knowledgeable window company. Homeowners can view a contractor’s credentials as another indicator of their degree of knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to the construction trade.

How Long Have You Been In Business?

Needless to say, longer is usually better. Under three years may signal an unstable business or one low on the learning curve. On the other hand, everybody has to start somewhere. References will be helpful to double check any business, and especially important when dealing with a new business. A newer business may have a great future but it is only reasonable to be more careful when considering its referrals. The failure rate of small businesses in the first three years is very high.

Do You Provide a Warranty or Guarantee?

Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year or more. Longer warranties are not necessarily more valuable than shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is less important than the intent and ability of the company to stand behind his warranty. That is best evaluated using customer referrals. Ask his customers specifically for information about these four things:

Did he perform his work on a timely basis?
Was he responsive when asked for information and changes?
Did he act as if he cared about the customers interests?
And finally, would you call the company trustworthy?

The company should warrant their workmanship. The manufacturer, on the other hand, warranties the windows against defects in manufacturing. Thus, two warranties will cover the new window system. Understand them both. Ask for a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty pertaining to the specific window products you are considering.

Usually, problems of either workmanship or material show up very quickly. Therefore, the near-term warranty given by the contractor or manufacturer is more important than the warranty coverage during the later years of the warranty. Even if problems of workmanship arise after the workmanship warranty has lapsed, a reliable contractor usually will want to stand behind his work.

Best Hunterdon County Replacement Windows | Markey LLC

If you need Hunterdon County replacement windows and are looking for the perfect home renovation company for the job, you’ve come to the right place! Markey LLC has been providing outstanding window replacement services throughout the Hunterdon County area for over 25 years. Markey specializes in a variety of types of windows including bow & bay windows, casement windows, double hung windows, garden windows and more! All of our employees are factory certified and we never use subcontractors. Contact us or visit our Hunterdon County replacement windows showroom to see full size displays of our products.